12 people were killed by bombs

At least 12 people were killed by bombs this morning in Baghdad, a day after 50 were killed by militants in the Iraqi capital. Iraqi officials said the bombs targeted pilgrims taking part in the final day of a Shia religious holiday.

Police and hospital officials said the dead were believed to be pilgrims on their way home from visiting a mosque in northern Baghdad to mark the anniversary of the death of a revered Shia figure.

Hundreds of thousands of devout Shia Muslims from across the country walked to Baghdad to take part. But the crowds have made prime targets for Sunni insurgents.

Though violence has dropped across Iraq, religious processions, holy sites and security forces are still regularly targeted by insurgents trying to reignite sectarian bloodshed that had the country teetering on the brink of civil war from 2005 to 2007.